Computer science or drama GCSE

[Lucynorth1]

I have a bright Y9 boy looking at choosing his options for GCSE. He likes both computer science and drama. He’s worried that drama would be a lot more work than CS, but he likes being in plays. He will probably study humanities at A-level. He is going to do 10 GCSEs. What would you recommend pls?

It would be good to know what else he is doing. I think drama would be good if he isn't doing another art option as it gives a break from the academic subjects. Both my DDs are academic but love their art lessons as a break. Often you do the exams earlier as well is which means it's out the way before the others.

Thank you. Those are great points. He’s doing triple science, French, history and geography, maths, English lang and English lit too.

Drama looks good for a humanities interested lad with those GCSEs.

Either is fine. So whatever his heart says.
Drama would give a change in dynamics.

This is all great advice, I’m grateful

DS found CS quite boring, although that might vary depending on the exam board.

A big advantage with Drama is that a lot is completed in advance of the main exam season. My son's GCSE involved a devised group piece that led to a marked written portfolio then an assessed scripted performance so two of the three elements were done and dusted by the February of Y11. It reduced a lot of pressure knowing there was just one section to revise.

You would need to look at the Drama specification; although the portfolio aspect has to be submitted by whatever date the school sets to meet the late April/early May deadline, my DC’s performance piece was later - MFL oral kind of time. Massively different skill sets and Drama more in keeping with the profile, I would suggest.

Drama! Good with humanities - lots about analysis and scripting and staging. Good for verbal skills.

Would agree they are very different - if he is mildly interested rather than naturally good at coding or very interested in a career in computer science I would do drama. Computer science is more challenging on logic and has a lower pass mark because it is a hard GCSE, so if he isn't all in it might not be a good choice.

If he’s bright I’d do cs and keep options open there is so much potential employment in this area. If he’s going to find gcses though the change of pace and style may help balance the load.

I agree with this. Can he still not also participate in school plays to get his drama fix?

My DD did choices not miles from yourDS @Lucynorth1 (music not history) and she loved drama. It was as others say a break from the norm and a chance to be creative. She had a good group which helped.

DS took CS and was really not a fan in the end. Unless he loves coding I would say drama as it offers a nice change of pace from a pretty full-on list of GCSEs.

Thanks so much. The drama syllabus is Pearson Edexcel and the computer science one is OCR. He can get his drama fix outside of school, but I think he might prefer to do plays in school.

Everyone I know, my DS included, did CS because it was an easy top grade for those inclined towards maths and science and it fits in the wheelhouse, as it were. It's quite dry if you're not that interested in coding. I don't think it really keeps any additional options open for your DS as you really need maths A level to do anything with CS beyond GCSE if you're pursuing the academic post - 16 route.

That said, the boys I know who did drama all found it a lot of work, and some of it took place during the main revision period for the rest of their exams, which was pretty stressful.

I would pick the one he's likely to get the better grade in.

@Lucynorth1 if he likes both then it's a no brainer - computer science. It is so much more useful for future employment.

Thanks so much. Lots of helpful advice.

my DD did both, she’s a STEM nerd but I think found drama good balance.
coding can also be done as a hobby/extracurricular - obviously that’s not all there is to CS, but then there’s more to a drama gcse than just participating in a drama club.

drama does (Leastwise did when dd took it and I can’t see how it wouldn’t) involve quite a bit of group work so it’s probably worth him thinking a bit about who else may be taking it - they may or may not be allowed to choose their own groups.

My DD did both. She is an extremely able coder and great at maths but found CS so boring. The syllabus is extremely dry. I also can’t believe that in this day and age that the coding paper is still done by writing it out by hand on a piece of paper. It totally put her off studying it at A-level.

You don’t need CS at either GCSE or A-level to study it at university either, just really strong maths.

Drama was good for her as it gave her some downtime away from more academic subjects. Has the added benefit of only one desk based exam with half the marks already “in the bag” before it all kicks off. It’s not an easy GCSE though and lots underestimate the written aspects of the course.

Ultimately it doesn’t really matter. Neither is essential for any future university or career plans so just choose the one he likes the most.

My DS is doing exactly the same subjects and also wavered between drama and CS.

He went for Drama in the end. He is good at computers but found CS both difficult and boring. He decided on drama because he is very shy and thought it would help with his confidence. He actually ended up really disliking drama, and found it more intense than he expected. But still thinks it was better than CS for him.

As a pp said- I think it has to be a gut decision in the end.

"I also can’t believe that in this day and age that the coding paper is still done by writing it out by hand on a piece of paper."

@RatherBeOnVacation CS GCSE used to be partially assessed on a coding project but they had to stop assessing it that way in 2017 due to this:

BBC News - Computer science GCSE in disarray after tasks leaked online - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-42138037